Martin McDowell is a Tottenham Hotspur fan living in Birmingham.

He is putting together a private collection of Spurs trivia.

“I’m fascinated by Spurs’ double-winning side of the early 1960s,” he said.

“The more details I get, the more I am astounded by the fact that many of these great players just came from humble football backgrounds.

“I need some info confirmed on Bill Brown.

“Bill was Tottenham’s goalkeeper in these great years and I know he signed up at White Hart Lane from Dundee.

“The bit I’m trying to complete in his profile in his early years as a professional.

“The only cutting I have from a newspaper is that he joined Dundee after he was spotted in a ‘non-league kickabout/friendly’.

“I’ve come across your column on the internet and you seem to be well up with all things Dundee FC.”

Bill Brown played for Carnoustie Panmure Juniors, which I suppose is the Scottish version of ‘non-league’.

He played a trial for the club at the start of the 1949-50 season when the Dens Park side took on Hibs in a game to open Dundee Violet Juniors ground, Glenesk Park.

He didn’t make his proper first-team debut until January 1950 when he was between the sticks when Dundee visited Clyde at Shawfield.

* Staying on the Tottenham theme, Alan Gilzean was such a prolific goalscorer at Dundee that Willie Emslie, of Lochee, Dundee, asked me if he scored on his debut for Tottenham Hotspur.

Gilzean’s debut for Spurs was an away game at Everton, which ended 2-2.

He didn’t score, with both goals credited to Jimmy Greaves.

Willie also asked if Gilzean scored over 100 goals for the White Hart Lane side.

He just fell short on 93.

Tommy Docherty was the subject of a query for Downfield’s Martin Wallace.

“I read somewhere that Tommy Docherty actually played for Chelsea in addition to managing them,” said Martin.

“Friends, though, say that he was just a coach and eventually manager.

“Can you confirm?”

Gorbals-born Tommy Docherty played for Celtic and Preston North End, before Arsenal handed over £20,000 in 1958 to take him from Deepdale to Highbury.

After three seasons, he crossed over London to join Chelsea as coach.

In season 1961-62, he turned out for the first team on four occasions, each time listed as “emergency cover” in files I consulted.

You just can’t keep Brechin City out of this column.

Here they are again but this time coming off the back of a Cowdenbeath story.

It came about when an un-named reader told me he was at a football quiz and one of the answers was a Cowdenbeath goalkeeper who was capped for Scotland.

He said he could not remember the name and, despite following football for over 60 years, could also not recall any goalkeeper ever playing for Scotland while playing for the Central Park side.

Actually, you would have to go back 86 years to 1930 to find Bob Middleton given a Scotland cap while playing with Cowdenbeath.

Bob was born in Brechin and played for his hometown club before joining the Fife team.

He also played around 60 times for Sunderland, and enjoyed other spells at Burton Town and Chester City.

You could argue Bob had a 100% record for Scotland as that solitary appearance was a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland at Celtic Park on February 22.

Hughie Gallacher (2) and George Stevenson netted for Scotland, with Harold McCaw replying for the Irish.

Scotland lined up — Bob Middleton (Cowdenbeath); Doug Gray (Rangers), Willie Wiseman (Queen’s Park); Jim Gibson (Aston Villa), Dave Meiklejohn (Rangers) (capt), Tom Craig (Rangers); Alex Jackson (Huddersfield), George Stevenson (Motherwell), Hugh Gallacher (Newcastle), Alex James (Arsenal), Alan Morton (Rangers).

Attendance 30,000.

I can’t find a Cowdenbeath team photo with Bob in it, so above is a Brechin City team group from the late 1920s, which features Bob.

I’m not sure of the exact year.

Back (from left) — Fleming, Cowan, Newman, Middleton, Elder, Wilkie. Front — Beattie, Easson, Ramsay (captain), Cairns, Sampson.

* Researching other queries for info-hungry BwB readers, I came across an interesting tale.

It concerns a competition called The Dewar Shield.

It was a competition for the winners of four county cups — Forfarshire Cup, Perthshire Cup, Stirlingshire Cup and Aberdeenshire Cup.

It was initially created by 1899 and the idea was to give local clubs some summer income. The competition was backed by the whisky firm Dewar’s. The winning team and runners-up were given Premium Bonds by the management committee.

My memories of the competition in the 60s and 70s is that it was always running a season or two behind schedule.

Further research threw up this . . .

Presented by Lord Provost Dewar of Perth, one of the sons of the founder of the John Dewar & Sons whisky distillery, this competition was played between the winners of the Aberdeenshire, Forfarshire, Perthshire and Stirlingshire Cups, the winners being declared champions of the four northern counties.

Attempts by the Fifeshire FA to be included were knocked back so as not to disturb the four club symmetry of the tournament.

Originally played at the tail-end of the season, in the post-war era it was often played into the following season or even stretched over several seasons, if played at all.

After an abeyance of 12 years, the competition was resurrected by the now Lord Forteviot in 1927.

If a county hadn’t played off their cup, or it was still running, then that county FA would nominate a suitable club to enter the Dewar Shield.

The shield was last played for in 1982, and resides still in St Johnstone’s boardroom in Perth.

The story about Charlie Drummond being called from the audience in a cinema to sign for Fife outfit Raith Rovers caught the eye of Bob Hanson.

“Raith Rovers have a particular distinction in my memory because they were the opponents in a friendly match at Elland Road when I saw Leeds United playing for the first time,” said Bob, of Macclesfield, Cheshire.

“The game was on March 1, 1958, and the result was a 5-0 win for United.

“I remember only that the Raith Rovers goalkeeper was named Drummond.

“I have never seen a record of this game anywhere, so I am delighted to be able to mark it here.

“In the following week, my first-ever league match attendance, Leeds lost 2-1 to Tottenham Hotspur.”

I can’t find details of that Raith Rovers friendly but perhaps a keen fan of the Kirkcaldy side can come back with some info.

A couple of years on, Raith did host a friendly against Leeds — this was on October 10, 1960.

The Kirkcaldy side posted a 4-1 win with goals from Urquhart (2), Kelly and French.

The Elland Road side’s counter came from a penalty by Cameron.

Raith Rovers — Thorburn; Stevenson, Mochan; Spence, Polland, Leigh; Wallace, Kelly, French, Matthew, Urquhart.

Leeds United — Humphries; McGuigan, Hair; Cameron, Charlton, Goodwin; Bremner, Revie, McCole, Peyton, Murray.

Jack Charlton and Billy Bremner, of course, continued with the Leeds side as Don Revie stepped up to the manager’s seat, enjoying great success in both domestic and European football.

Rob Boag started his latest contribution to this column with a stark warning.

“If any of your readers suffer from haemophobia (a fear of blood), then I suggest they don’t read the rest of this article,” he warned.

“During the late 1940s and 50s, my dad and uncle Joe had friends within the Glasgow professional boxing fraternity, which meant good seats for most championship bouts that took place in Glasgow.

“In 1951, it was announced that Bobby Boland from Dundee was to get a crack at the British bantamweight title against holder Peter Keenan from Glasgow.

“It would be a 15-rounder in June of that year at Firhill Park.

“This generated excitement between the two cities.

“Sports writers described in detail the strength, skills and technique of both men.

“Bobby was described as a hard-hitting fighter who kept moving toward his opponent with punishing body blows.

“Peter was deemed a ring technician with a KO punch in either hand.

“Keenan was given the edge because of his boxing skills but everyone knew this title bout was too close to call.”

Canadian resident Rob continued: “We have all heard of the Thrilla in Manila and the Rumble in the Jungle — this was Bloodspill in Firhill.

“On Wednesday, June 27, 1951, the fans arrived in their thousands to Firhill Park.

“Dad and uncle Joe had great seats in the ringside area, with a great view of the action.

“Round 1 — There was no cautious feeling out of each other. Boland came out of his corner and went after Keenan, a great start to this title bout.

“Round 2 — Started off where round 1 finished, then there was a bad clash of heads. Keenan was cut but the damage to Boland was a gash high up on his forehead.

“The blood flowed and poured down Bobby’s face and into his eyes and, with every clinch in that round, it cascaded on to Keenan.

“At the end of round 2, Bobby’s corner lads tried every trick in the book to stem the flow, slathering Vaseline on it before the bell sounded for the third round.

“And so it went, round after round, the champion and the challenger trading punches and the gash on Bobby’s head refused to close.

“It was a bloodbath, it covered both boxers.

“Round 10 — When the fighters grappled and clinched against the ropes, blood flecked and speckled and spattered out of the ring and on to the front-row fans.

“Hard, tough veterans of the Glasgow fight game turned their heads away, and some of them stood up, calling at the referee to stop the fight.

“Round 12 — Boland came off his stool and went at Keenan with a vengeance but Peter had enough endurance and skill left to block and counter Bobby’s punches.

“More calls came from the crowd to stop it, and the referee eventually stepped in between the two gladiators and looked again at Bobby’s weeping wound.

“The official then stopped the fight — a TKO victory for Peter Keenan.”

Rob surmised: “Scottish boxing had never witnessed anything like this before, and never since, and never will.

“Dad and uncle Joe referred to stitches after a fight as embroidery. They told us Bobby and Peter were well and truly embroidered later that evening in their dressing-rooms.

“Keenan described Boland as the greatest Scottish professional bantamweight boxer never to win a title.

“Offered Keenan: ‘He was a tough, tough customer inside the ring, and a good guy outside the ropes’.”

“Long, long time Tully reader” Samuel Webster, of Coldside, remembers a football personality appearing on “This Is Your Life”.

For younger readers, This Is Your Life was a BBC programme.

It was a British biographical series, hosted from 1955 until 1987 by Eamonn Andrews, then by Michael Aspel until 2003.

In the show, the host surprises a special guest, before taking them through their life with the assistance of the ‘big red book’.

Sam’s query was: “I remember Liverpool’s legendary manager Bill Shankly being the subject of the programme.

“I distinctly remember, at the end, that an entire Scotland international football team came on — international team-mates of Shankly.

“Which players appeared and why?”

The team that paid tribute to Shankly on that show was the one which beat England in an incredible game.

The Scots beat the Auld Enemy 5-4 at Hampden on April 18, 1942.

There were two hat-tricks in the game — one for Scotland’s Ephraim ‘Jock’ Dodds and the other from England’s Tommy Lawton.

Jimmy Hagen also netted for England, with the home tally being made up with counters from Shankly and Billy Liddell.

Scotland lined up that day — Dawson (Rangers); Carabine (Third Lanark), Beattie (Preston); Shankly (Preston NE), Smith (Preston), Busby (Hibs); Waddell (Rangers), Herd (Manchester City), Dodds (Blackpool), Bremner (Arsenal), Liddell (Liverpool).

The only person not to appear on the TV show was Willie Waddell.

Matt Busby, who was guesting as a wartime player for Hibs, also went on to appear in the show. Indeed, he was the first subject to be honoured on two separate occasions by the show.

There is a school of thought that Shankly later thought he had retired too early from his post at Liverpool.

When he left, his assistant Bob Paisley took over — and the rest, as they say, is history.

IN a recent Tele piece, Morton forward Peter MacDonald looked back on his time at Dundee and commented on the way he was looked after by the backroom staff, including the tea lady.

Tea ladies may be well down the pecking order at clubs but they are coveted by players, especially young lads, who see them as surrogate mums.

Despite her robust approach towards Graeme Souness in their infamous set to at McDiarmid Park, St Johnstone’s Aggie Moffat was much loved by St Johnstone players.

There was nothing like a warming cup of tea and consoling arm from Aggie for a young lad after various managers had bawled him out.

Her predecessor at Saints, Mary Gibson, was also a much-loved lady.

In fact, ex-Saints John Lambie, Alex MacDonald and Ally McCoist turned up at her funeral.

In Coisty’s case, just after having come off a plane which had just come in from Norway where he was on Scotland duty.

Another ex-Saint, Sir Alex Ferguson, couldn’t attend the funeral but sent a wreath.

Not long prior to that, the famous Man U team boss visited Mary at her home 7 Inchaffray Street, Perth.

The occasion was the opening of McDiarmid Park with the Old Trafford club being Saints’ esteemed visitors.

Mary couldn’t attend due to her frailty and, upon hearing this from my colleague James Masson,

Sir Alex instructed the United coach driver to pull up outside Mary’s on their way back to the Huntingtower Hotel where they were spending the night after the game.

The bus was too big to get into Inchaffray Street so it was parked outside the chippie on nearby Crieff Road while Sir Alex nipped in to see Mary.

United legend Sir Matt Busby was instructed to purchase a fish supper for every player and so Steve Bruce, Brian McClair, Paul Ince and Co. were treated to the famous delicacy while Sir Alex had a blether about old times with Mary.

And, when it came for the time for Sir Alex to go, he was mobbed, as were his players, for autographs.

The chippie owner was so delighted he still talks to this day about the night his premises was packed with superstars.

John Taylor is very well known around the local — and beyond — pub and club circuit as cabaret singer John T.

But what many didn’t know was that JT was a very good footballer in his younger days.

Lochee’s Andy Walker takes up the story.

“I went to visit John over the Christmas holiday period — and the visit was mind-blowing,” said Andy.

“In all the years I have known him, I never knew of his achievements in local football.

“John is originally from Perth and has had a connection with St Johnstone for over a century. His father Arthur played right-back for Saints just after the First World War into the 1920s.

“John’s winning habit in football started early when he captained the Northern District School U/12 team in the Norie-Miller Cup in 1950.

“John spent most of his playing days with Guildtown AFC in the Perthshire Amateur League. In his time with them, John won three Perthshire Amateur Cups, three Marshall Cups, a League Cup, two Division One titles, a Consolation trophy and one Ashleigh Cup.”

John also dipped his toe in the senior ranks, as Andy continued: “In the 1963-64 season, he went to see then St Johnstone manager Bobby Brown and asked for a trial.

“Brown asked why he should give him a trial?

“John replied: ‘Cause this team is rotten’!

“Brown then told John he could not give him a trial for the fear of what would happen if the team found out what he thought of them.

“John thought he would play his ace, saying: ‘Stirling Albion want me to sign for them’.

“Brown replied: ‘That’s the best place for you’.

“John duly signed for The Binos and made his debut in the reserves against Hibs.

“Stirling were trounced 7-0 and he didn’t shine, so no great professional career.

Andy revealed: “John had an uncle whose name was John ‘Jock’ Smeaton, who had a good career with Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers and St Johnstone.

“This was the uncle after whom he was named, his mother’s brother.

“When John was on the road with a band, they were booked for the Blackburn Rovers Player of the Year night. That night, as the band were setting up, they were getting pelters. The crowd didn’t want tartan songs, fiddles, pipes or Annie Laurie.

“For about 40 minutes, they were harangued.

“On stage, as they were introduced, John didn’t start singing.

“Instead, he asked the audience for a few minutes. He then waxed lyrical about the venue, the fabulous attire of the committee men, the bar staff, &c.

“He then informed them that, if it had not been for the efforts of his uncle, they might not have this marvellous venue.

“A total silence descended on the hall before he was asked: ‘Who was your uncle?’

“When Jock Smeaton was mentioned, all the older members stood up, applauded and the mood turned. John was a hit and when he came off for a break, there was around 30 whiskies sitting for him.”

Andy concluded: “John said he would have loved to have seen famous successful Midlands sides such as Auchterhouse or the NCR play Guildtown.

“He reckoned that when the juniors went regional, so should have the amateurs.”

The January 19 story of the European Cup-Winners’ Cup saw Angus Rourke spot a mistake.

“You said Aberdeen went into the tournament as Scottish Cup winners but they were actually beaten in the final,” said Angus.

“Celtic beat them 2-0 in the 1967 final at Hampden with two goals by Willie Wallace.

“As Celtic won everything that year — including the European Cup — the Dons went into the Fairs Cup as runners-up.”

Angus, from West Kirkton, continued: “Aberdeen actually eliminated both Dundee teams from the Scottish Cup that season.

“I was at Dens when they beat Dundee 5-0 and I remember Jimmy Smith running riot in that game.

“He was absolutely brilliant and tore Dundee apart.

“Aberdeen also beat Dundee United 1-0 in their semi-final.

“This game was played at Dens and the only goal was an own goal from United defender Tommy Millar.

“I also might be right in thinking that was the last time around 43,000 people attended a match at Dens Park.”

Angus concluded: “My abiding memory of the Dundee v Leeds United semi-final first leg at Dens is goalkeeper Ally Donaldson physically hauling Jackie Charlton to the ground.

“The Leeds centre-half was doing his usual intimidation of goalies at a corner and Ally just pushed him away.

“He was lucky the referee never saw it.”

Peter Rennie was another who took me up on the Cup-Winners’ Cup tale.

“In the late 1950s, I was working in London and stayed in the Earls Court area,” said Peter, a regular contributor to BwB.

“Where I lived wasn’t too far from Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium, in fact just up the road.

“One of the games I attended was that first final between a London select and Barcelona.The date was March 25, 1958.

“I still have the two-page programme from the match, which cost thruppence in old money.

Peter, who lives in Victoria Road, Dundee, continued: “My main memory of the game is an absolutely fantastic goal scored by Jimmy Greaves.

“In those days, Stamford Bridge was not the stadium it is today and the admission prices were more reasonable. However, I can’t recall the actual admission price. At that time, I was paid a weekly wage of £9 9s, which covered my rent, my food and my travel to work.

“I also used to attend games at Arsenal and Tottenham and saw Bill Brown make his home debut for Spurs.”

When Peter moved back to Dundee, he followed Dundee.

He concluded: “I also attended the Leeds United v Dundee second leg game at Elland Road.

“My father Bruce and I went down on a bus.”

Hugh Donaldson is a ‘life-long Rangers fan’, and he opened: “The past few seasons have not been great but, hopefully, we are on the way back to the top league.

“I was a central defender when I played football but not at any great level.

“I’ve always admired good centre-halves and how they play the game.

“Great pivots playing in Scotland in my time have been George Young, Ronnie McKinnon, Billy McNeill, Ian Ure, Richard Gough and Terry Butcher.”

Hugh, from Stobswell, Dundee, continued with a query.

“This concerns another centre-half called Colin Jackson, who sadly died last year.

“I reckon he was born in Stirling but others said he signed for Rangers from an Aberdeen junior side.

“Can BwB clear this up?”

Jackson, who played over 500 times for Rangers, won eight full Scotland caps, and some files
suggest he was born in London.

I have no files which indicate where he was brought up but he certainly played for Aberdeen sides Banks O’ Dee and Sunnybank before joining up at Ibrox.

After leaving Rangers, Jackson played briefly with Morton and Partick Thistle.

The East Craigie Juniors photo featured on February 2 was undated.

Rosalind Fulton, though, reckons she knows which season that team were together — 1935-36.

“That photo was part of a cigarette packet collection and I put it into the Tele many years ago,” she revealed.

“I got a number of replies at the time, and one was from Bert Robertson, who was second from left in the front row, next to my dad James Doig, who is next to him on the extreme left.

“Bert actually wrote to me from Australia, where he emigrated to, and I also remember him saying that Jim Gilligan (second from left, back) broke his leg at Downfield.

“Bert actually stepped up to Dundee United and also played for Stobswell Juniors.”

Rosalind, who stays in Downfield, and is a member of the Downfield Juniors Social Club, also has one of her dad’s medals.

She concluded: “He must have moved on to Arnot JFC after East Craigie.

“The medal is inscribed ‘Arnot, DJL Champions, 1938-39’.”

* RESEARCHING other items, I’ve come across details of a game in which over 5,000 spectators crammed into Beechwood Park in Dundee — for a friendly!

It was billed as a Present Harp team v Old Harp team and took place on June 16, 1948.

It was a testimonial game for Mrs Smith, wife of club treasurer Jimmy. She washed the strips for years and had died a month earlier. The money raised at the game was used to buy a surround for Mrs Brown’s grave and also to build a hut at the ground for the Old Harp Association.

The Present Harp side won 6-2 with a hat-trick from Clinton, and singles from Horsburgh, D Duncan and Glen. An H Duncan double counted for Old Harp.

Although the following line-ups are not regarded as set in stone, it’s reckoned the teams were:

Old Harp — Mauchland; Stewart, Chaplain; Coleman, Farquharson, Brown; McLaren, A Duncan, H Duncan, Adamson, Boag.

Present Harp — McDonald; Gourlay, Wilson; Black, Duffy, Connor; Glen, D Duncan, Horsburgh, B Gallagher, Clinton.

* A COUPLE of errors in recent editions didn’t escape the attention of eagle-eye Blether with Brown readers.

First, Angus Rourke correctly pointed out it was Tommy Millar who scored the own goal against Aberdeen in a Scottish Cup semi-final at Dens Park.

Then Rab Wilson came in with: “Aberdeen did not play in the Fairs Cup in 1967/68 but the European Cup-Winners’ Cup. The Scottish Cup winner or losing finalist, if winner did the double, always entered the ECWC.

“It was the League Cup winner that would have competed in the Fairs Cup/UEFA Cup.”

Frank Gilfeather highlighted the ‘halcyon days of amateur boxing’ in Dundee in a recent article, topping it off with a wonderful photo of the Lochee Amateur Boxing Club from the early 1950s.

One name in the photo struck a chord with a reader.

“I noticed the trainer in the photo sent in by Frank Gilfeather was Frankie Parkes,” said John ‘Sinbad’ Bryceland.

“Frankie had two or three pages about his own boxing career printed in the American boxing magazine ‘The Ring’.

“It was all about his record-breaking bouts at home and abroad.”

John, of Provost Road, Dundee, continued: “He lived with his sister Sarah in Lochee High Street.

“I also wonder if the magazine is still knocking around as I remember reading it when I was a laddie.

“I enjoy reading your column as all things sporty interest me and many times names pop up I recognise.

“I just like to add my tuppence worth.”

The Ring, founded and published by Nat Fleischer, along with Dan Daniel, was first published in 1922 and, indeed, is still being published today.

It initially started by covering both boxing and wrestling but, as the sporting legitimacy of professional wrestling came more into question, The Ring shifted to becoming
exclusively a boxing publication.

The magazine is currently owned by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Enterprises and is often referred to as ‘The Bible Of Boxing’.

Finally, I asked John why he is nicknamed Sinbad, and he replied: “My father gave me that nickname when I joined the Merchant Navy at 16 years old many moons ago.
“I am actually better known as Sinbad.”

* PETER Quinn confirmed boxing bouts took place at Dundee FC’s Dens Park because he attended one.

“It was around 1948/49 when my dad took me to Dens to see a boxing match,” said Peter.

“It was Terry Allen fighting local boxer Norrie Tennant.

“Allen won on points.”

“Tennant was a very good boxer. Had he been a bit bigger I’m sure he would have won a world title.”

* MUHAMMAD Ali’s fights against Joe Frazier are of interest to Peter Goodfellow, of Muirhead.

“Everyone knows about the ‘Thrilla In Manila’ but that was the third time Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier had fought,” he said.

“Where was the venue for the first bout between the pair?”

Ali and Frazier met for the first time in March 1971 at Madison Square Garden in New York — a pairing billed as ‘The Fight of the Century’.

Smokin’ Joe was the champion at the time, and won that one on points, knocking Ali down at the start of the final round.

The second bout between them was also at Madison Square Garden in January 1974.

It was a non-title fight and Ali won that one on points.

Bout Three — The Thrilla in Manila — was fought at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City of the Philippines on October 1, 1975.

The bout is often ranked as one of the greatest fights of all-time and was the climax to the bitter rivalry between Ali and Frazier.

Eddie Futch, Frazier’s trainer, decided to stop the fight between the 14th and 15th rounds of an amazingly-brutal contest after both fighters had given everything.

Promoted by Don King, it had a tremendous media following, and was broadcast to 68 countries worldwide.

This photo of Coupar Angus from 1957 caught my eye for a couple of reasons.

The first is that there seems to be a very healthy crowd in the background.

The second is that, judging by the dirty knees, the photo was taken at a time other than before kick-off.

Coupar Angus juniors are still going strong today despite the blip of taking a year out a couple of seasons ago to sort out their Foxhall Park pitch.

Founded in 1935, I can trace trophies back as far of 1938-39 when they won the Angus Junior League. They also won the Currie Cup that season.

They were also champions in 1956 and 1960.

They picked up the Forfar and District Cup in 1953 and 1956.

They switched leagues to the Perthshire Junior League and were crowned champions in 62-63.

In 1969, they joined the Midland Region Junior League but the following year joined the Tayside Premier League of the Scottish Junior Football Association’s Eastern Region.

They currently play in the North League under coaches Ross Graham and Euan Donaldson.

Files available to me don’t show up any trophies won in the last 45 years.

Maybe there has been at least a couple of promotions from lower leagues.

Can anyone fill in the blanks?

Sandy ‘Sy’ Thomson has featured periodically in BwB.

To refresh, over the years, Sy has compiled a personal match report of every game he has played — at all levels.

He got in touch and opened: “I have been reading with interest, being a former East Craigie player, the recent debate about Scotland’s oldest junior football club.

“I recall playing in a match to celebrate the centenary of Vale of Clyde FC.

“It took place on Sunday, October 20, 1974, at Greenfield Park, Glasgow, home of Shettleston Juniors, between a Scottish Junior XI and a Central Region select.”

Sy, who also recently informed me he is to be married to fiance Linda in June, continued: “I was playing for Blairgowrie Juniors at the time and three other players from the Midlands were selected for the Scottish select.

“They were Andy Dott (Kinnoull), Billy O’Rourke (Stobswell) and Joe Tront (Osborne).

“The full Scottish team was — S Thomson (Blairgowrie), H McCann (Linlithgow Rose), A Dott (Kinnoull), L Frew (Linlithgow Rose), E Bashford (Meadow X1), P Dunn (Fauldhouse Utd), P Smith (Lewis Utd), W O’Rourke (Stobswell), A Johnstone (Meadow X1), D McIlroy (Ardrossan Winton Rovers), J Tront (Osborne).

“Travelling reserves were R Tolmie (Dalkeith), J Fleeting (Kilbirnie), R Stevenson (Sauchie), F Clark (Saltcoats).

“Paddy Winton, of Jeanfield Swifts, was the manager.”

Sy, who played for Alloa, Dunfermline and Dundee United among others, went on: “The teams were introduced to Celtic manager Jock Stein before the match. Each player also received the book called ‘A Hundred Years Of Scottish Football’ signed by the great man.

“In a closely-contested, entertaining match, the Central Region won 4-3. Joe Tront and Billy O’Rourke both scored, with the other Scottish scorer being D McIlroy.”

The great Denis Law twice played for Aberdeen Schoolboys against Dundee Schoolboys — but ended up on the losing side both times.

I came across this information when researching other material.

In the press cuttings, an Ian Hamilton was quoted as saying Law played in both games for Dundee.

The first of a two-legged tie saw Dundee win 4-3 at Tannadice Park, with goals by Crossan (2), Robertson and Fenton.

Law was on target, along with Fleming and Lornie.

Dundee lined up — McDonald; McIntyre, Hamilton; Sturrock, Conning, Slidders; McAulay, Robertson, Crossan, Duncan, Fenton.

At Linksfield in the return leg, Dundee won 4-2 with strikes by Crossan (2), Robertson and an own goal. Aberdeen’s counters came from Law and Sim (pen). Dand for Sturrock and Neil for McAulay were the only Dundee changes.

Of the Dundee team, Ian Hamilton went on to play for Dundee United, Frank Crossan for Dundee, Drummond Robertson for East Fife and Melville Neil for Preston North End.

Apart from Law, others in the Aberdeen team who stepped up to senior were John ‘Tubby’ Ogston (Aberdeen), George Sim (East Fife) and Jack Lornie (Leicester).

Music often triggers great memories of events, times and individuals.

And that is the case of Rob Boag’s latest contribution to this column.

Said Rob: “The first time I heard Johnny Cash perform Kris Kristofferson’s classic ‘Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down’, I reckoned Kris must have spent a few weekends in downtown 1950s/60s Dundee.

“Even now, when I hear the song, I can recall Sunday mornings at that time period in Dundee.

“To say Sundays were slow would be the understatement of the decade.

“Sundays were a day of inertia.

“However, there were compensations during the six days following and leading up to another Sunday.

“In 1950s Dundee, there was little unemployment, even though the jute industry had been administered the last rites.

“New factories and commerce were moving into the city with a better work environment and better paying jobs.

“The building trade was booming and sports were aided by black and white television sets installed into Dundee homes that gave us more sport to view.

Rob, a born-and-raised Dundonian now living in Canada, continued: “There was also a sound that hit Dundee streets running — it was called ‘rock and roll’.

“Amidst all this, families were migrating from old traditional Dundee streets to galaxies far, far away.

“Well . . . at that time . . . anywhere north of the Kingsway was far, far away.”

Moving to sport, Rob went on: “The 1950s kicked off with the transfer of a football player from Derby County to Dundee FC.

“The few of us remaining who witnessed, who watched and who marvelled at the genius of Billy Steel are honoured.

“This was a talent who could comfortably line up alongside Messi and Neymar in today’s Barcelona team.

“I still remember the euphoria when Lochee Harp were on their way to Hampden, on their way to the Scottish Junior Cup Final in 1954.

“I still have shards of bitter disappointment that stay within me after I heard the final score that black Saturday (losing 2-1 to Sunnybank).

“The 1956 Melbourne Olympics placed Dundee on the sports map with a gold medal from Dick McTaggart, along with the most prestigious Val Barker Trophy — an inexplicably under-appreciated award — the only one ever presented to a UK sportsman.

“In the 1950s/60s, soon-to-be legendary amateur boxing commentator Harry Carpenter took us to international boxing competitions, ABA preliminary bouts and ABA finals.

“He introduced a Dundee lad named Wullie Bannon to Great Britain with Harry’s affectionate nickname of Wild Bill.

“A Scot caught our attention down south with his team of ‘Busby Babes’ — the nickname for Matt’s great Manchester United side of the time.

“I remember being at a worksite on a 1958 dreary February morning when the Munich air disaster hit the front pages.

“It affected Dundee sports fans — it was a sombre time as we shared our sadness with Matt and the people of Manchester.”

There was to be an upsurge in local professional football, too.

Recalled Rob: “In 1959, at the end of the decade, along came Jerry Kerry, a new manager for Dundee United, and heralded the start of a football renaissance that would take the soon-to-be-nicknamed Arabs to decades of unprecedented football glory.

“Is 1962-63 Dundee FC’s greatest season?

“If you stood on Provost Road on a midweek evening during that season when a European game was being played, reflection from the floodlights on Dens Park illuminated the dark Dundee sky.

“The roar of the crowd turned to a crescendo as Gordon Smith took off down the right wing and swung over a cross that Alan Gilzean guided into the onion bag.

“It appeared to lift the illumination up into the heavens and every window pane on Provost Road and Dens Road shook and shuddered as if the sound barrier had been broken.

“In 1965, Midlands AFA outfit NCR were victorious in the Scottish Amateur Cup Final (beating Jordanhill 6-2).

“And, if that was not enough for Dundee, the Vikings invaded.

“They pillaged and plundered every team that Dundee United played against, whether it was Barcelona or Celtic.

“Orjan Persson, Finn Seemann, Lennart Wing, Finn Dossing and Mogens Berg were outstanding — what a team, what a decade.

Rob concluded: “In the late 1950s, as a young lad, on Saturday evenings I would head with my pals to the Palais De Dance on Tay Street.

“If privileged, I would receive a request for ladies choice from one of Dundee’s many fair maidens.

“As we slowly moved around that iconic dance floor and listened to Charlie Coates croon or a Johnny Mathis hit, this was sustenance enough to face the next day — and Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down.”

Several recent articles caught the attention of reader Bill Grant.

The first was the February 16 photo of the Elmwood JFC players and officials from 1939-40.

“In the Elmwood photo, I noticed E Downie next to G McKay, who was, of course, ‘Piper’ McKay.

“That is Earle Downie, who also went on to play for Dundee United for a couple of seasons.

“He would have played alongside Bobby Ross.”

Bill, from West Ferry, continued: “I also remember a player playing for United around 46-47 called Willie Carruthers.

“He was a good goalscoring centre-forward and he scored on his debut for United in a 6-2 home win over Alloa Athletic.

“He was a regular goalscorer but I also think he had just one eye.”

Former electrician Bill, who worked, among others, for Dundee firm Thomas Justice, went on: “In those days, irrespective of who you supported, most football fans went to Tannadice one week and Dens the next.

“Your Charlie ‘Legs’ Fleming story of March 8 also brought back memories.

“I remember standing in a big queue to see East Fife visit Dundee at Dens Park.

“When I eventually got in, the Fifers were 3-0 up.

“Fleming seemed to be hitting the ball at goal from all angles.

“I think East Fife eventually won that game 5-3.”

I found difficulty in tracing a United player called Carruthers, so I got in touch with Tannadice historian and author Peter Rundo.

Peter, as ever, came up with the goods.

“It was presumably Willie CROTHERS, who was a striker signed in season 1946-47,” offered Peter.

At this juncture, I have to point out that my interview with Bill was conducted over the phone and I just presumed that was the spelling of the surname ‘Carruthers’!

Back to Peter, and he continued: “Crothers was severely injured on active service in Burma during WW2 but recovered after six months in hospital.

“However, I cannot confirm whether his sight was impaired.

“He was with Dunipace Juniors when he played as a trialist against Alloa on January 11, 1947, scoring twice and was immediately signed.

“He was an ever present for the rest of that campaign.

“The arrival of Peter McKay meant he found it harder to get into the side and had to be content with playing in the reserves and, from time to time, in the first team.

“In March 1948, he spent a short time on loan at Stirling Albion and a brief spell on loan at Alloa Athletic in March the following year.

“He left United in November 1950 to join Forfar Athletic.

“In total, he played 44 first team games, scoring 28 times.”

Frank Gilfeather also paid tribute to his great friend Walter McGowan.

“The recent death of Walter evoked memories of a golden time in Scottish boxing,” he said.

“The flyweight from Hamilton proved how gifted he was by winning the world championship with his victory over the Italian holder Salvatore Burruni at the Empire Pool and Sports Arena, Wembley.

“That came about in June 1966 and it was one of many of McGowan’s 40 fights I helped him prepare for.

“We would be at it several days at a time in Hamilton where we’d do a five-mile run in hobnail boots — no trainers in those days.

“This would be followed by a swim at the local baths.

“Then there would be two further sessions in the gym at lunchtime and early evening during which we sparred many rounds.

“Walter’s father Joe Gans — he took the ring name of a former world lightweight champion of the early 1900s — had first ‘employed’ me as sparring partner when I was barely 16, telling me I was the only one that could make his son think.”

Frank, now, of course, a well-known journalist and broadcaster, continued: “Walter was immensely talented and arguably possessed the greatest repertoire of punches of any Scottish boxer.

“He had the ability to switch his feet and body to allow him to throw punches from a variety of angles which meant that, were you in the ring with him and experienced a lapse in concentration, you could end up with a sore face.

“Take my word for it!

“He was also a popular man with the right balance of confidence in his own talent and a modesty that brought him many admirers from fans from all over the world.

“Had he not been prone to cuts, an affliction that cost him his world championship to Chartchai Chionoi (Thailand), Walter would have gone on to be one of the world’s great boxers.

“A frequent visitor to Dundee — the picture at the far left shows us squaring-up prior to a promotion at the former Rialto Cinema in Lochee in 1963 — Walter McGowan’s decline when his career ended was sad.

“Still, he leaves behind memories of a wonderful sportsman who always did Scotland proud.”

BOXING fans earlier this year were sorry to hear of the death of Walter McGowan, aged 73.

The Hamilton flyweight defeated Salvatore Burruni to win the world flyweight title in 1966, and was awarded the MBE.

He had already won Scottish, British, European and Empire titles before defeating the Italian at Wembley over 15 rounds to land the world title.

In McGowan’s next fight, he won the British and Empire title at bantamweight when he defeated Alan Rudkin, again at Wembley.

He won 32 of his 40 professional fights before retiring in 1969.

As an amateur fighter, he lost just twice in 124 bouts and won the British ABA flyweight title in 1961.

Dundonian Alex McInnes, who was brought up in Lochee, remembers McGowan fondly.

“In 1977, Walter McGowan was invited by the late Dennis Gilfeather, of Camperdown ABC, to accompany three Dundee boxers who were training for the Scotland v England amateur boxing match to a day trip,” recalled Alex.

“The trip was to the Stewart’s Cream of the Barley, whose premises were on the Kingsway in Dundee.

“Cream of the Barley were the sponsors of the international match, which took place at the NCR factory canteen on Dunsinane Road.

“The local boxers were light welterweight Jimmy Douglas, welterweight Martin Ogilvie and myself — a middleweight.

“During the full tour, Walter kept everybody entertained with his stories about the shenanigans he and Ken Buchanan used to get up to when they were representing Scotland.

“When the tour was complete, we were all taken into a company director’s office.

“Being in training for the big night, we were served soft drinks. However, the director then opened his massive drinks cabinet, which was full of whiskys.

“He then asked Walter what he would you like to drink. In a heartbeat, Walter replied: ‘What I have been use to all my career . . . champagne!’

“One of the office staff was soon despatched to get Walter his bottle of champagne.

“We all had a really great day.”

Alex, who won three Scottish Midlands ABA titles and a British TAVR boxing title in Leeds, concluded: “Walter . . . you may have passed away but you will never be forgotten.”

Alex told me he was brought up in Lochee, aka ‘Tipperary’ due to the influx of Irish who came to work in Cox’s Mill.

He attended Dryburgh Primary School, then Logie Secondary.

He was a steel erector/rigger to trade and worked in power station construction, oil refineries and tank erection, and was also a member of the TAVR Territorial Reserves.

His late father Alex Sr trained Jimmy Douglas when he won the British ABA light- welterweight title in 1978 at Wembley, and was Scottish coach on a number of occasions.

McGowan’s passing also saddened my colleague James Masson.

James met Walter several times and enjoyed talking boxing with him. And Walter was no stranger to this area.

James said: “Before some of his big contests, he would train on the sands near Arbroath, with his father and mentor Joe Gans supervising his workouts. The pair would live close by the sands on these training trips and be on the beach first thing every morning.

“Walter was also friendly with big-punching Perth middleweight Doug Holden, the pair boxing for Scotland together, and Walter was no stranger to the Fair City as he came up to see Doug from time to time.

“After beating Burruni, Walter told me a tale of the dubious tactics Burruni employed during that bout.

“Walter said: ‘When I got in close, Burruni would stand on my toes to stop me moving. However, I ended up with the world title — and 10 sore toes’.”

See also below.

Following my February 23 article, Cowdenbeath FC director David Allan offered some more information on former Central Park goalkeeper Bob Middleton.

“I noted your feature re Bob Middleton,” said David, continuing: “and I can give you a bit more detail about him plus a photo of him with his Scotland team-mates — including Wembley Wizards such as Alex Jackson, Alex James, Hughie Gallacher and Alan Morton.

“Robert Connan Middleton was born at 19 Crocket’s Building, Montrose Street, Brechin, on January 24, 1904.

“He was the son of William Middleton, a railway engine driver.

“Initially, he played for Brechin Comrades, and also played for Edzell. He next had a turn for Brechin City as a full-back and, going back to juniordom, and after another player was injured, kept goal for the Brechin Victoria.

“He helped Vics reach the last eight of the Scottish Cup and signed for Forfar on a provisional form but Athletic transferred him to Brechin City later on.”

David, who has contributed to BwB in the past, continued: “Cowdenbeath had suffered a heavy blow with Scottish League internationalist John Falconer’s injury in 1928.

“A number of clubs were, meantime, hotly on Bob Middleton’s track, overtures being made by several for his transfer.

“Cowdenbeath paid the price, and secured the goods.

“The signing of Middleton was an inspired move. Bob made such an impact that the loss of Falconer was minimised.

“He was well built, fearless and agile. His lithe and athletic goalkeeping displays attracted the Scottish selectors to Central Park and, in February 1930, he became the first of three Cowdenbeath players to be capped by Scotland when he played in Scotland’s 3-1 win over Ireland.

“For the next international against England, Middleton was reserve to Jack Harkness.”

Bob’s great form did not go unnoticed, as David went on: “As ever, the English scouts hovered around Central Park and it was only a matter of time before Cowden succumbed to their blandishments.

“The race for Middleton was narrowed down to a straight fight between Newcastle and Sunderland, and it was the Roker Park club which emerged victorious.

“Sunderland purchased Bob Middleton for a £2,000 fee. Middleton played 66 times for Sunderland over the next three seasons without ever quite emulating his Cowdenbeath form.

“He lost his place in the side when he suffered a broken hand.

“Later, he had a short spell with Burton Town and and years with Chester before his retirement in 1938.”

After playing, Middleton settled down as manager of Ye Olde Custom House Inn in Chester before eventually coming home to Brechin.

David again continues his story.

“Bob served in the army during the war and joined the Brechin supporters’ club after his demob from the army, and was appointed to the football club committee as a delegate from the supporters.

“At the time of his resignation from the committee in 1952, he was the longest-serving member.

“He became janitor at Damacre School and after his retirement was a lollipop man.

“Bob was also responsible for discovering Arthur Milne, the little centre-forward from Brechin who played for Hibs and ended his career at Central Park.

“Bob died in his native Brechin in 1984.

“His Scotland cap and his Scotland jersey are proudly displayed in the Brechin City boardroom, while this picture (above, left) of him in the Scotland team is displayed in the Cowdenbeath boardroom.”